Vending-machine.



PATEN'IED JAN. 7, 1908. A. BROWN & A. W. LAWRENCE.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.11, 1907.

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'No. 876,143. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

A. BROWN & A. W. LAWRENCE.

VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1907.

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No. 876,143. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

A. BROWN & A. W. LAWRENCE.

VENDING MAGHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB.11, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW BROWN, OF CARNEGIE, AND ANDERSON W. LAWRENCE, OF DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

VE NDING-MACHINE Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

Application filed February 11. 1907. Serial No. 356.898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANDREW BROWN and ANDERSON WV. LAwRENoE, citizens of the United States of America, residing, respec tively,at Carnegie andDuquesne,in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending-whines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to stamp vending machines, and the invention has for its object to provide a novel machine for dispensing postage stamps the operation of the machine being governed by a controlling mechanism.

Our invention aims to provide a machine for dispensing stamps of one denomination, a plurality of machines being used in a postoffice or department where stamps are sold. The machines are designed for dispensing with the employment of labor for delivering a stamp, and in constructing machines, we employ positive and reliable means to insure the perfect operation of the machine and the delivering of a stamp, either upon an envelop or by itself.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the inven tion is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing forming part of this specification, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of our improved machine illustrating a portion of the same in elevation, Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine taken on the line ww of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a vertical stamp holder, Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line :c:n of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the coin controlling mechanism, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one end of the operating lever.

To put our invention into practice, we construct our improved machine of a box or casing comprising a base 1, side walls 2 and 3, a top plate 4 and hinged end walls 5 and (5, said walls 5 and 6 being retained in a closed position by locks 7 of a conventional form. Between the side walls 2 and 3 is arranged a horizontal partition 8 and above said partition is arranged the mechanism for delivering a stamp. The controlling mechanism for the vending mechanism is supported upon the horizontal partition 8, by providing said-pan tition with bearings 9 for a horizontal shaft 10, and a cylindrical bearing 11 for a vertically extending tubular shaft 12. Upon the tubular shaft 1.2 is mounted a beveled gear wheel 14 adapted to mesh with a beveled gear wheel 15 carried by the end of the horizontal shaft 10. Upon the shaft 10 is pivoted a bifurcated operating lever 16 said lever extending through the end wall 6 of the machine whereby it may be easily actuated by a person desiring a stamp. Upon the shaft 1.0 between the arms 17 of said lever is mounted a ratchet wheel 18 and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel is a pivoted pawl 19. Upon the shaft 10 is also mounted a toothed wheel 20, said wheel being engaged by the toothed end 21 of a balanced scoop 22, said scoop being fulcrumed upon an outwardly extending pin 23 carried by the wall 2 of the machine. The scoop is provided with a rod 24 upon which a weight 25 is adjustably mounted, said weight being employed to properly balance the scoop whereby when the coin is deposited. in the scoop 22, the toothed end 2] of said scoop will be elevated to release the toothed wheel 20 and the shaft 1Q. To convey a coin to the scoop 22, we employ a chute 26 the upper end of which terminates in an escutcheon plate 27 arranged upon the top plate 4 adjacent to the edge of the end wall (5.

To receive the coin deposited in the machine, after it has moved the scoop 22, we employ a suitable receptacle 28, said receptacle being mounted upon the partition 8 directly beneath the scoop. The upper end of the tubular shaft 12 is provided with a circular head 29 carrying a plurality of radially disposed vertical stamp holders 30, said holders being pivotally connected to the head 29 and comprising grooves 31 in which stamps are placed upon their edges, each holder being adapted to hold one postage stamp. The top plate 4 is provided with an opening 32 into which the vertical holders 30 descend to discharge a stamp into the chute 33, said chute passing through the horizontal partition 8 and terminating in a receiver 34 carried by the end wall 6.

The top plate 4 is provided with a segment shaped guide 35, which extends through the said member to position a holder to swing opening 32, said guide being employed to engage the vertical holders 30 and return them to a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

To operate the machine, a coin is deposited in the chute 29, passes therefrom,

strikes and tilts the scoop 22, releasing the Wheel 20 and allowing the operator to rotate the horizontal shaft 10 through the medium of the operating lever 16 and the pawl 19. The tubular shaft 12 is rotated through the medium of the beveled gear wheels 14 and 15, and as said shaft 12 rotates the head 29 will be moved to allowone of the vertical stamp holders 30 to descend through the opening 32 and deliver a stamp. in the chute 33 from where the stamp passes to the re ceiver 34. As a coin temporarily tilts the scoop 22, said scoop will return to its normal position after depositing a coin in the receptacle 28, and the toothed end 21 of said scoop will lock the toothed wheel 22, and prevent further rotation of the tubular shaft 12. The stroke of the operating lever 16 is regulated whereby the head 29 can be rotated a sufficient distance to cause one vertical stamp holder to deliver a stamp.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be evident that a simple and inexpensive machine is set up and whereby a stamp is readily delivered when the mechanism is released.

Such changes in the size, proportion and minor details of construction as are permissible by the appended claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

l/Vhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vending machine comprising a rotatable member mounted upon a vertical axis, a plurality of article holders pivoted upon the member, a stationary holder support arranged below said member, and normally maintaining said holders in an upright position and provided with means to al ow of the swinging of a holder upon its pivot to discharge the article carried thereby, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, and means for actuating said member to position a holder to swing upon its pivot to discharge the article.

2. A vending machine comprising a rotatable member mounted upon a vertical axis, a plurality of article holders pivoted upon the member, a stationary holder support arranged below said member, and normally maintaining said holders in an upright position and provided with means to allow of the swinging of a holder upon its pivot to discharge the article carried thereby, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, means for actuating upon its pivot to discharge the article, and means for returning a holder to normal position after the article has been discharged therefrom.

3. Avending machine comprising a rotatable member mounted upon a vertical axis, a plurality of article holders pivoted upon the member, a stationary holder support arranged below said member, and normally maintaining said holders in an upright position and provided with means to allow of the swinging of a holder upon its pivot to discharge the article carried thereby, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, a normally locked and manually oper ated actuating means for said member to shift the latter to position a holder swing upon its pivot to discharge the article, and means for releasing said actuating means.

4. A vending machine comprising a rotatable member mounted upon a vertical axis, a plurality of article holders pivoted upon the member, a stationary holder support arranged below said member, and normally maintaining said holders in an upright position and provided with means to allow of the swinging of a holder uponits pivot to discharge the article carried thereby, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, a normally locked and. manually operated actuating means for said' member to shift the latter to position a holder swing upon its pivot to discharge the article, a means for releasing said actuating means, and means for returning a holder to normal position after the article has been discharged therefrom.

5. A vending machine comprising a rotatable member, a plurality of radially-eXtending pivoted article holders carried by the member and normally retained in an upright position, a stationary support arranged below the member, maintaining said holders in an upright position and provided with an opening to allow of the pivoting of a holder to discharge an article during the shifting of said member, a shaft to which said member is attached, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, means for revolvingsaid shaft to position a holder to allow it to swing downwardly in said opening to discharge the article into the chute, and means for returning a holder to normal position is attached, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, means for revolving said shaft to position a holder to allow it to swing downwardly in said opening to dis charge the article into the chute, and an incline track for returning a holder to normal position after the article has been discharged.

7. A vending machine comprising a rotatable member, a plurality of radially-extending pivoted article holders carried by the member and normally retained in an upright position, a stationary support arranged below the member, maintaining said holders in an upright position and provided with an opening to allow of the pivoting of a holder to discharge an article during the shifting of said member, a shaft to which said member is attached, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, a normally locked and manually operated means for actuating said shaft, and means for releasing said actuating means,

8. A vending machine comprising a rotatable member, a plurality of radially-extending pivoted article holders carried by the member and normally retained in an upright position, a stationary support arranged below the member, maintaining said holders in an upright position and provided with an opening to allow of the pivoting of a holder to discharge an article during the shifting of said member, a shaft to which said member is attached, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, a normally locked and manually operated means for actuating said shaft, means for releasing said actuating means, and means for returning a holder to normal position after the article has been discharged.

9. A vending machine comprising a rotatable member, a plurality of radially-extending pivoted article holders carried by the member and normally retained in an upright position, a stationary support arranged be low the member,maintaining said holders in an upright position and provided with an opening to allow of the pivoting of a holder to discharge an article during the shifting of said member, a shaft to which said member is attached, a delivery chute adapted to conduct the discharged article, a normally locked and manually operated means for actuating said shaft, means for releasing said actuating means, and an inclined track for returning a holder to normal position after the article has been discharged.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW BROW'N ANDERSON \V. LAXVRENCE.

\Vitnesses:

K. H. BUTLER, C. KLosTEn'MANN. 

